Durham Rescue Mission/Golden Belt

The Durham Rescue Mission made public an extensive redevelopment of three blocks along Alston Avenue. The redevelopment included a mixed use building with offices, dining, and dormitories as well as additional dormitories, apartments, and houses. Some existing mill house were slated for demolitions. The plan included closing streets between the blocks and fencing around the entire complex. The Golden Belt Mill Housing neighborhood across the street had a mixed reaction to the redevelopment program, particularly the street closures and the fencing. Some were also against the destruction of the historic mill houses on that side of Alston Avenue. DAD held a public input session and subsequently a charrette to see if there was a more acceptable masterplan. The charrette was not a success in that not all parties came to find a consensus solution; however, the publicity from the process will likely affect which parts of the plan will be approved.